I'm scared...

to walk around in Oakland at night.. in the dark... with not one thing to protect me. 

A few weeks ago, while walking home late at night, I saw a sign on a tree that read, "Mugging Nov, XX at 6pm - please contact Oakland Police if you have any information regarding this case." I shrugged and walked on.

Five days ago, I see another sign.  "Woman robbed at 1:30pm on Nov. XX - please contact Oakland Police.." That worried me a little... a robbery in broad daylight?

Yesterday, my professor mentioned that a graduate student (who lives in Oakland) was robbed at gunpoint while dropping off his girlfriend.  The perpetrators (two of them, both with guns) took his car, his wallet and cell phone - everything. The financial loss sucks, but it's not a big deal.  It's the fear that you'll never quite get over.

Today, I walk back from work at 8:30pm... alone... in the dark.  And I see a tall black man following behind me. He comes closer...and closer... My heart starts to beat really fast... and I consider walking faster / running away. He passes me and continues walking.  I let out a sigh.

In my mind, I knew that most likely, he meant me no harm.  But I couldn't stop the absolute panic that took over my heart.

Tonight, while looking up the crime rates for Oakland, and I came across this crime-tracking map.

I narrowed it down to crimes committed during commute hours only (7-9am, 6-8pm), ignored the less scary crimes like narcotics and "disturbing the peace," and set the dates for the month of November.

Here's what my 'hood looks like:

 

Oakland is this country's third most dangerous city.

 

When people get married, do they really know what they're getting themselves into?  People often overestimate or underestimate risks; thinking that they'd be the exception to the rule.

For example, many people are afraid flying, but are willing to drive.  Of course, they are much, much, much more likely to die in a car accident than an airline accident.  But why do people think this way? Simply because the media makes such a big deal out of airline incidents that people perceive the risks differently - you hear about it more, so you think it happens more frequently than it really does.

Same for marriages / divorces.  Marriages are big celebrations - happy brides (occasionally, grooms - but mostly brides) send invitations and announcements; they take pictures and have a party - the whole shebang.
Divorces are quiet. No one wants to hear about it. Divorcees don't want to talk about it.

I mean, think about it - how many weddings do you think you'll attend in your life time?
How many divorces?
There we go.

Here're some numbers for you:
"It predicted that one-third of new marriages among younger people will end in divorce within 10 years and 43 percent within 15 years." - National Center of Health Statistics

And what about all those who stay together because they simply have to? (E.g. those with children, etc)

I'm just trying to be realistic.

why is it that digital photography is now the "IN" thing but digital video isn't?

for example, at weddings - wouldn't you rather have a video that you can watch, over and over again... than a photo that doesn't move?  

and what about children? surely you'd rather have a video of  your child talking, smiling, moving around - than just a picture.

i could see beautiful digital videos being created... ~~~